Zana Friganovic, Alesia Mikalayeva and Liina Suurvarik of the Illinois State womens tennis team travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the 2000 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional beginning on Thursday.
The singles champion, singles finalist and championship doubles team of the tournament earn an automatic berth in the 2001 Rolex National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in February.
For the first time ever we have kids that could do really well, head coach Chris Hoover said. We need to play very well and have a little luck on our side.
Mikalayeva earned a spot in the main draw while Friganovic and Suurvarik must battle through the qualifying round first. Mikalayeva and Suurvarik pair up in the main draw of the doubles bracket.
Liinas looking very good and appears to be well prepared, Hoover said. I wish she could have played more college matches before this tournament. Alesia is starting to look very good and Zana has been kind of in and out in practice so its hard to tell.
Tennis is a weird game, it depends a lot on the draw and who decides to show up and play. Hopefully well be prepared.
Qualifying play begins on Thursday at the University of Michigan Varsity Tennis Center while main draw action starts on Saturday.
